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Monday, September 8, 2014

Philippines,
Sept. 8, 2014 – NBA players Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews of the Portland
Trail Blazers, together with NBA legend Avery Johnson, will travel to Northern
Cebu on September 12, 2014 to help communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda, the NBA (National Basketball Association) and World Vision Philippines announced
today.

Robin, Wesley and Avery will support the NBA’s ongoing
commitment to help children and families affected by the disaster rebuild their
lives by visiting affected communities like Compostela Municipality and conducting
basketball clinics for the local children.

“Typhoon Yolanda caused sweeping destruction
on a national scale, and those who were most impacted are still coping with its
devastation months after,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Country Manager,
Philippines. “The residents in Northern Cebu are one such group, and we
support World Vision Philippines’ tireless efforts to help the city and its
communities rebuild. We hope our visit will help lift the spirits of the
people of Northern Cebu as the city continues its road to recovery.”

“The NBA has assisted World Vision's emergency
responses in the past, and we are grateful for the continued support,” said
Josaias T. dela Cruz, Executive Director, World Vision Development Foundation.
“We are happy to host the upcoming visit of Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews
and Avery Johnson to Cebu, and our community partners, especially the
basketball-loving children, will be delighted to meet with the NBA players in
what we trust will be a fun and meaningful exchange for both the NBA visitors
and the local community.”

The NBA Family has contributed more than $2.2
million in support of Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts, including a $250,000
contribution to World Vision in November 2013 by the NBA and the National
Basketball Players Association (NBPA). In November 2013, the 2013 Jr. NBA
Philippines All-Stars visited Los Angeles as part of their NBA Experience trip
and—on behalf of the Philippines Red Cross—accepted a $150,000 contribution by
the Los Angeles Lakers, which was presented by Lakers star Kobe Bryant at
center court of the Staples Center. In August 2014, the NBA partnered
with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines to bring NBA Legend Derrick Alston and
WNBA Legend Allison Feaster to the Philippines to participate in sports
diplomacy activities. The envoys visited disaster-hit Leyte and Cebu City
to donate books and basketballs and participated in school construction and
tree planting.